MUZAFFARGARH: Three doctors, including a deputy medical superintendent (DMS), and two nurses of the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, Shujaabad, were suspended from service as they were absent from duty when the South Punjab health secretary paid a surprise visit to the hospital on Thursday.

Those suspended from service included DMS Dr Muhammad Idrees, Medical Officer Dr Adeel and Woman Medical Officer Dr Farwah and nurses Nuzhat Batool and Gul Naz.

Health Secretary Muhammad Iqbal checked the attendance of medical and paramedical staff, availability and supply of medicines to the patients. He reviewed the hygiene situation in the hospital and also inquired about the medical facilities being provided to the people who were at the hospital for treatment.

Mr Iqbal expressed displeasure at the poor service delivery and lack of proper care of patients at the hospital. He directed the medical superintendent to resolve the issues immediately and submit a report.

Multan Commissioner Engineer Amir Khattak visited the Cancer Centre at the Nishtar Hospital and met the patients and their families. He inquired after the patients belonging to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said a plan for completion of the centre’s building should be prepared.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Ijaz Ahmed said free medicines and free radiation therapy were being provided to the Cancer Centre. The ground floor is fully functional at a cost of over Rs650m while the plan for completion of Cancer Centre Phase-I would be sent to the Commissioner’s Office. The recommendations had been sent to the Punjab government for vacancies in the Cancer Centre.

JICA: A delegation of the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) visited the South Punjab Secretariat and showed interest in the plan to further enhance maternal and child health programme in the region.

The delegation had a detailed meeting with Health Secretary Muhammad Iqbal.

Representing the delegation, Asanuma Yasuko gave a briefing on the Maternal and Child Health Plan, saying the project was being launched in three districts of Multan, Khanewal and Vehari.

Published in Dawn,June 10th, 2022